Summary
Overview
Work History
Skills
Accomplishments
Education & Certifications
IT & Technical Skills
Memberships
Volunteer Experience
Affiliations
References
Timeline
Generic

Shauna Chadlowe

Sydney,Australia

Summary

A collaborative, agile, and entrepreneurial conservation leader with proven success in delivering strategic partnerships, transformational campaigns and long-term revenue growth.

Overview

32
32
years of professional experience

Work History

Chief Conservation Alliance Officer

Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC)
01.2023 - Current

In my newly established role, I lead initiatives to advance AWC’s mission and vision through strategic alliances, partnerships, collaborations and acquisitions. I am intimately involved in the development of AWC’s 10-year strategic vision, goals, targets and plan. My focus includes building a portfolio of new projects and strengthening existing land management relationships with private and commercial landholders, governments and Indigenous Peoples. Working closely with the Chief Executive, Board and Senior Leadership, and drawing on my extensive knowledge and experience in Australian conservation principles and practices, I represent AWC at the highest levels, lead projects from concept to fruition, including spearheading pitches, presentations, proposals, tender submissions, negotiation, agreement and contract renewal. Networking, strategic positioning, policy development as well as sourcing and pursuing new funding mechanisms are key elements of this highly collaborative role.

  • Successfully negotiated a historic agreement with the Queensland Government and private landholders to protect critically endangered Northern Hairy-nosed Wombats
  • Negotiated new improved partnership contract for existing Bullo River Station partnership
  • Secured transformative major media partnership with Australian Geographic
  • Coordinated tender submissions for two Government projects
  • Currently leading a complex multi-party project to acquire land and establish a new conservation corridor in NSW as well as a gateway project in Victoria
  • Collaborating across sectors and fostering major commercial conservation partnership in renewable energy sector
  • Established efficient new systems and policies to streamline management of new projects and enhance the visibility of AWC’s model
  • Developing growth plan for this office aligned with AWC’s new 10-year strategic plan.

Chief Development Officer (CDO)

Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC)
07.2018 - 01.2022

As AWC’s global CDO, I built an outstanding high-performing, cohesive team to develop and implement the vision, objectives and strategies for growing and diversifying AWC’s national and international philanthropic revenue. I led the execution of AWC's national sanctuary events and city-based functions, and spearheaded the organisation’s marketing, communication, media and supporter engagement strategies. In this highly visible and accountable role, I represented AWC at the highest levels. Key achievements included:

  • Built exceptional high-performing cross-functional teams in development/ fundraising, events, community engagement, donations processing
  • Achieved over 30% YoY growth in philanthropic revenue
  • Grew AWC’s total philanthropic income from $9M p.a to $27M p.a in 3 years
  • Secured ($M) major gifts and orchestrated four successful matching campaigns (ranging from $500,000 to $3 million)
  • Increased value of AWC’s grants program from $1.2M to over $9M in three years
  • Grew the total number of gifts by 18% over a 5-year period
  • Expanded AWC's constituent base by more than 260%
  • Launched AWC in Conversation webinars, amassing ~40,000 views across 17 countries
  • Designed and implemented AWC’s bequest program, securing $3M and $4M bequests and establishing a significant bequest pipeline to future-proof the organisation
  • Expanded corporate partnership program, including securing new $1.6 million and $3M corporate partnerships with WIRES and the Hawaiian Group
  • Engaged with, and presented to, diverse stakeholder groups
  • Led brand refresh, launched new website, implemented tailored PR and communication tools and strategies
  • Set new standards for CRM functionality, data management, compliance and processes
  • AWC achieved highest percentile for donor engagement, recruitment, and retention globally in 2021 (source: Blackbaud Netcommunity)
  • Established new office in Brisbane in 2018
  • Grew AWC UK and USA, raising funds for AWC in UK/Europe and USA.

Chief Development Officer (east)

Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC)
01.2014 - 06.2018

Representing AWC at the highest levels of philanthropy and managing an extensive portfolio of high net worth donors, my role involved:

  • Securing significant major gifts and implementing campaigns to increase AWC’s philanthropic income.
  • Building capacity in Sydney and establishing an office in Melbourne to grow revenue in Victoria.
  • Coordinating and supervising donor acquisition, prospect research, corporate, foundation support, and grants.
  • Leading the delivery of AWC’s national program of functions and events.
  • Establishing AWC’s bequest strategy, (including securing $3M bequest)
  • Developing projections for annual revenues, tracking donations and trends and reporting against established goals for each fiscal year
  • Analysing market conditions to determine potential areas for expanding AWC’s fundraising base.
  • Developed insightful fundraising and communication tools and materials to attract funding opportunities.
  • Conducting outreach activities - speaking engagements, networking events to champion AWC’s mission.
  • Working closely with board members to identify major gift prospects and solicit contributions.

Senior Development Executive

Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC)
08.2006 - 01.2013
  • Established AWC’s Sydney office and developed and implemented strategy to grow AWC’s philanthropic (individuals and foundations) and commercial network of support in eastern Australia. Building a small team of direct reports, my role involved:
  • Recruiting, stewarding and engaging supporters and securing major gifts
  • Implementing major land acquisition fundraising campaigns
  • Managing AWC’s program of city-based functions and remote sanctuary events
  • Establishing corporate sponsorship and workplace giving programs, securing brands such as Optus ($250K), Google, Accenture, Exterra, Kathmandu, Outback Spirit and Seek
  • Substantially increased value of media and communications through partnerships with Optus (reached >4M customers p.a., developed new website, ran major fundraising and awareness campaigns), Google and Sydney Wildlife World
  • Raising general donor income: initiatives included recruiting and managing a small team of in-house tele-fundraisers; organising a team of 50 City2Surf AWC fundraisers annually (Achieved Top 10 City2Surf Fundraiser)
  • Securing support to establish AWC’s Scientific Internship program (now in its 16th year this world leading program has now graduated more than 190 interns)
  • Writing grant applications, proposals and acquittal reports for trusts and foundations.

Executive Director

International Quality & Productivity Centre (IQPC)
01.2004 - 07.2006

In this highly entrepreneurial, 2IC role I drove business development for IQPC, including identifying and establishing new business ventures. Key achievements included:

  • Initiating IQPC’s Defence conferences, securing the support of the Australian Defence Force
  • Defence conferences became IQPC’s most profitable revenue stream globally
  • Establishing IQPC Training, a new revenue stream providing short courses / seminars
  • This involved establishing a product pipeline, staff recruitment, product marketing and revenue generation
  • The role relied on relationship building, strong communication, negotiation and persuasive skills, commercial acumen and entrepreneurial spirit
  • Initiating IQPC Australia’s Special Events series, i.e
  • Large scale, highly sponsorable events featuring celebrity speakers
  • Establishing IQPC Awards in Australia across multiple sectors such as Alliance Contracting, and Shared Services successfully winning IQPC market share.

Acting Managing Director

IQPC
2002 - 2004

Trusted with running IQPC’s Australian business operations and managing 80 staff for 5-6 months while the Managing Director was on maternity leave in 2002 and again in 2004. I carried full responsibility for the timely production, continued growth and profitability of IQPC’s 140+ annual conference schedule during that time.

General Manager, Production

International Quality & Productivity Centre (IQPC)
01.1999 - 01.2004

This senior-level strategic and logistically complex role involved identifying ~140 commercially viable conference topics per annum for senior decision-makers in Australia's top 1,000 organisations. I managed the scheduling, strategic development and budgeting of IQPC's commercial conference program. I managed multiple teams of production staff and direction to the marketing, logistics, sales and sponsorship teams. I represented AWC at the highest levels, negotiated strategic alliances and secured national and international keynote speakers. I travelled to IQPC London to benchmark best practices and translate them to IQPC Sydney.

Conference Producer & Team Leader

International Quality & Productivity Centre (IQPC)
06.1995 - 01.1998

Leading a small team of conference producers, I drove business growth by identifying and producing commercially viable business conferences. Responsibilities included:

  • Building and leading a empowered, high performing team
  • Undertaking strategic research overseeing all aspects of scheduling, production, content, copywriting, tracking and reporting on team performance.
  • Sourced speakers and special guests for wide range of corporate, industry and charitable events.
  • Provided leadership in problem solving during unexpected challenges that arose before or during events.
  • Coordinated with sales and marketing teams to promote conferences through various channels.
  • Formulated strategies to maximize attendance at conferences.
  • Generated new ideas for future conferences that would appeal to target audiences.
  • Created budgets and tracked expenses to ensure financial goals were met or exceeded.

Solicitor

Gillis Delaney Brown, Solicitors
06.1993 - 05.1995

Insurance litigation (personal injuries and property damage) Specialist. Reporting to the Senior Partner, I was responsible for ~80 cases from inception to completion. Provided advice, undertook discovery, Court appearances and argument, instructed Counsel, negotiated and settled cases, consulted with clients, delivered targeted client and junior solicitor training.

Solicitor

McLachlan Chilton & Associates, Solicitors
01.1992 - 06.1993

As a graduate solicitor, I reported to the Managing Partner and managed cases under his supervision from inception to conclusion, primarily in the areas of insurance litigation (i.e. property damage), family law and commercial law. Responsibilities ranged from initial briefing from clients, providing advice, discovery, answering subpoenas, court appearances, arguing matters, in the local, district, supreme and family courts, negotiation and settlement of matters, drafting reports and letters to clients.

Skills

  • Exceptional relationship, interpersonal skills
  • Reputation for innovation, creativity, collaboration
  • Inclusive, visible, values-driven leader
  • An enabler and capacity builder, proven ability to inspire exceptional performance in multi-functional, geographically dispersed teams
  • Exceptional fundraising, development, PR, marketing skills
  • Outstanding written, verbal communication and presentation skills
  • Trusted ambassador and spokesperson
  • Commercial and financial acumen
  • Demonstrated skills in strategic planning, campaign management and execution
  • Negotiation, advocacy, persuasive skills
  • Excellent management of complex programs and operating environments
  • Measurement-driven, outcomes focused
  • Excellent organisational skills Demonstrated ability to streamline processes, prioritise and execute a large number of tasks efficiently
  • Able to manage a large number of relationships simultaneously
  • Deep knowledge and experience of conservation issues, threats, practices with proven experience working across boundaries to achieve conservation impact

Accomplishments

  • Published Chapter in Book
  • Communication initiatives I established won Banksia Award 2023
  • Received Oustanding Service Award at AWC 2016
  • Secondments with IQPC to UK and USA in 1998 in recognition of outstanding performance
  • Achieved first place in Industrial Relations Law, Masters Degree, UTS

Education & Certifications

  • Certified International Negotiator (CIN), Chartered Inst. of Professional Certifications, 2023
  • Master of Laws, University of Technology, Sydney, 1993 (discontinued)
  • Admitted as a solicitor, Supreme Court of NSW, Federal Court of Australia, 1991
  • Practical legal training, College of Law, 1991
  • Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Law, University of Sydney, 1990
  • Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), 1985
  • Higher School Certificate, SCEGGS, Darlinghurst, 1984

IT & Technical Skills

  • Monday.com
  • Raiser’s Edge / Netcommunity
  • Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, PowerPoint
  • AI - ChatGPT, OneChat, Microsoft Bing
  • Zoom, Teams, Skype
  • C-Class Driving License

Memberships

  • Member, Australian Institute of Company Directors
  • Member, University of Sydney Alumni Engagement Committee; and Alumni Book Club
  • Member, Philanthropy Australia;
  • Member, The Fundraising Institute of Australia
  • Member Casa de Macau
  • Former member, The Executive Connection
  • Former member, New South Wales Young Lawyers - Environmental Law

Volunteer Experience

  • Ravenswood School for Girls - Gala Balls, fundraising
  • Willoughby Girls High School P&C
  • Chatswood Public School P&C, fundraising drives, Year 6 graduation celebrations

Affiliations

I am passionate about conservation and love being immersed in nature, swimming, outdoor adventures and bushwalking. I revel in reading, learning new skills and creativity and really enjoy meeting new people.

References

Available on request

Timeline

Chief Conservation Alliance Officer

Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC)
01.2023 - Current

Chief Development Officer (CDO)

Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC)
07.2018 - 01.2022

Chief Development Officer (east)

Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC)
01.2014 - 06.2018

Senior Development Executive

Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC)
08.2006 - 01.2013

Executive Director

International Quality & Productivity Centre (IQPC)
01.2004 - 07.2006

General Manager, Production

International Quality & Productivity Centre (IQPC)
01.1999 - 01.2004

Conference Producer & Team Leader

International Quality & Productivity Centre (IQPC)
06.1995 - 01.1998

Solicitor

Gillis Delaney Brown, Solicitors
06.1993 - 05.1995

Solicitor

McLachlan Chilton & Associates, Solicitors
01.1992 - 06.1993

Acting Managing Director

IQPC
2002 - 2004
Shauna Chadlowe